A Keeper's Jackpot

Seymour

2012-01-08T17:35:00.004-05:00

Hiking Mt. Seymour was a much needed hike in a high stress time of my life. We had sold our house and bought our house in the beginning of the month, moving in right after closing. Only a couple weeks had gone by, and we were involved in several home improvement projects. My mom's surgery was over and she was recovering well. While there were many things I should have been doing, there was

Mt. Marshall

2011-12-29T15:31:00.005-05:00

Yes, I'm still alive - just busy, and neglectful of trip reports. Life has finally started to settle down to normal, and I'm playing catch-up before my winter hiking begins! I hiked Mt. Marshall way back in July so it's about time I do my trip report! Unfortunately, my body was in the High Peaks and my mind was at home where I left my husband to stay with my mom just a day after she was

Gothics via Pyramid

2011-07-25T14:05:00.008-04:00

I actually hiked Gothics a few weeks ago, the day after I did Algonquin, Iroquois, and Wright. I finally have a little time to write up the trip report! I met my same friend from the previous day at the Ausable Club, but I was a little ahead of schedule, so I stopped on the side of Rt. 73 to take a picture of Roaring Brook Falls.Roaring Brook Falls from Rt 73Starting around 7:30, we decided to

Algonquin, Iroquois, and Wright from the ADK Loj

2011-07-08T22:50:00.006-04:00

Three high peaks in a day sounds like a tough hike, but the Algonquin, Iroquois and Wright trek is really a decent hike, taking less time than some of the single peaks that I've done in a day. I went with a woman that I met through the ADK - we had hiked several hikes with the ADK before and had decided that we would venture out on our own this time.We met at the Loj at 8am... the sky was blue,

Mount Washington, New Hampshire

2011-06-30T21:44:00.009-04:00

For the first several years of my life, my family would make at least a couple trips to Maine every year. In the fall we would celebrate Thanksgiving with family, in the summer we'd stay at the family camp until it tragically burned down in the late 80s. After the fire, our trips decreased in frequency, but I would go at least once a year, sometimes with just Nana. The drive was long, but

Dix Mt.

2011-06-12T15:03:00.003-04:00

I finally finished the Dix Range yesterday, though the weather was not nearly as cooperative as it was during my first visit. This time I went with the ADK and we started from Rt. 73, near Keene, at the Round Pond trail head. There are two approaches, that I know of, to just hike Dix Mountain. The other approach would be coming from Elk Lake, like I had when I climbed Macomb, East Dix, South

Thoughts Along The Way

2011-06-05T12:37:00.004-04:00

The other day I was asked, "My gosh, look at you, why do you do this to yourself!?"This was a question that was asked of me by a friend who was looking at the collection of cuts, scrapes, and bruises that I had acquired after a weeks vacation that involved three trips to the high peaks and six more notches on my aspiring 46er belt.A bruise on my left upper arm, on the bicep specifically,

Gray, Skylight, and Marcy

2011-06-05T09:05:00.014-04:00

It seems like a lot to hike three high peaks in one day, but if you are going for all 46 of them, it is definitely the way to go. I had already hiked Mt. Marcy nearly two years ago, but that is one I'd always be willing to do again, at least in good weather. In this case, it was actually shorter distance to climb one more mountain than to go around!This trip was an ADK outing. Some of us met

NanjoDogz Pandora Beads

2011-06-02T19:35:00.003-04:00

Nancy, of NanjoDogz, is the most talented polymer clay Pandora bead artist that I've seen on Etsy. Her shop is full of handmade beads, mostly of dogs, and also carries a few sculptures, ornaments, and plaques.It is amazing how realistic she can make her Pandora beads look. Check out her Beagle Puppy "Toes with Calla Lily" Pandora bead! She makes beads of many more breeds of dogs, and she

Plan B: The Santanoni Range

2011-05-29T11:23:00.004-04:00

A couple of women that I met through the ADK met Saturday morning to carpool up to the Allen Trail Head near Upper Works. Our plan was to go with the CNY meetup group and hike to Allen Mountain. We waited with another two people at the trail head for about 50 minutes, none of the other hikers had showed up. We knew that they had all camped about 10 minutes away the night before, perhaps the

Haystack

2011-05-25T10:26:00.005-04:00

I was honored to ascend Haystack with my friend yesterday as she finished her 46!Us four girls started in Lake George and picked up our fifth hiker in Bolton before heading to The Garden in Keene. Beginning right at 6am we were right on track. The first 3.5 miles to Johns Brook Lodge were easy. The weather forcast at JBL was 50% chance of showers, temperatures in the low 60s. The sky was

Redfield and Cliff in Mud Season

2011-05-25T08:19:00.009-04:00

My morning began at the Stewarts shop in Chestertown where I left my car and hitched a ride with a fellow hiker. We met at the old Frontier Town Parking lot and followed the convoy into the Upper Works trail head. The trail was marked up to the actual herd path to the summit.From Upper Works we followed the Calamity Brook trail to Colden Dam, stopping for pictures at Calamity Pond where we

Vegemite and Copyright

2011-05-16T06:00:00.001-04:00

As I am enjoying our spring season, with longer days and warmer temperatures, those in the southern hemisphere are experiencing autumn. The EtsyBloggers team is blogging about the Land Down Under this month. I have never been on the other side of the equator, but when I think of the Land Down Under, the first thing that pops in my mind is Men at Work. My first cassette tape was Men at Work's

Note to Self

2011-04-11T22:28:00.003-04:00

If you could write your childhood self a letter from your adult self now, what would you say? Would you offer advice, wisdom, or lottery numbers? Or would you let yourself just figure it out all over again?Here's a make your own version of a music video from Arcade Fire's We Used to Wait for a customized Music Monday. It suggests using Google Chrome for optimal results, though my Firefox

Featured Artist: Mystic Wynd

2011-03-31T21:24:00.007-04:00

Karen of MysticWynd has something for everyone in her shop. Her shop offers items appropriate for work, that appeal to a fashionista, and more exotic jewelry for a trend setter. There is even something for a bride and her bridal party. If you are a nature girl like myself, you will definitely find something you like. She incorporates natural material, like wood and stones, and several of her

Mt. Colden via Lake Arnold

2011-03-27T12:46:00.008-04:00

The calendar may say that it is officially Spring, but it's still Winter up in the Adirondacks. Although I just went up Mt. Colden in snowshoes with my Microspikes stashed in my pack the hike does not count towards a Winter 46 badge, which at this point I don't plan on working towards anyway.The weather was perfect for winter-like conditions. Cold enough but not too cold, and some clouds but

I Won't Give Up On Yoga... Yet.

2011-03-12T21:36:00.006-05:00

When I first started taking Pilates classes about five years ago, I was skeptical at first. I went for the first couple of weeks and didn't really "get it." I'd go through the motions but not feel the benefits until one day the mind-body connection clicked and I finally understood that I needed my mind to tell my core to control my arm and leg movements. Eventually I even found myself using my

Turquoise

2011-03-12T19:54:00.004-05:00

What's your favorite birthstone? I'm partial to my own, turquoise."If cold December gave you birthThe month of snow and ice and mirthPlace on your hand a turquoise blue;Success will bless whate'er you do."~from Gregorian Birthstone PoemsThis newly listed item in my shop, Empty Nest, features a bird themed epoxy pendant in a copper setting. In each of the four corners are tiny faux turquoise

Wordless Wednesday: Defeat

2011-03-09T15:09:00.002-05:00

Music Monday: Lady Gaga, Naturally

2011-03-07T07:41:00.003-05:00

Since I will be seeing Lady Gaga in concert tomorrow, it seems fitting I use her music for this week's Music Monday feature. I am going with my college roommate as a gift to ourselves for a milestone birthday. We won't be arriving in an egg, but most likely a town car with driver. Might as well live it up, right? Here is a video from Lady Gaga's 2011 Grammy performance, where she debuted "

Winter Peaks: Armstrong and Upper Wolf Jaw

2011-03-06T22:42:00.005-05:00

The morning began with a drive through sleet and snow to the parking lot at the Ausable Club. We geared up and were on the 0.9 mile road to the gate a little after 7am. We signed the book at 7:20 checked out the map at the gate house, and chatted with the ranger for a bit about our plans for the day, which were initially Gothics and Armstrong, possibly the Wolfjaws. We walked the dreaded Lake

Music Monday: Double Feature

2011-02-21T19:30:00.003-05:00

I haven't shared any videos in a few weeks so I'll share two songs that I'm into right now, both a mix of Indie/Soul/Pop."Rolling in the Deep" by Adele"Moneygrabber" by Fitz & the Tantrums

Winter High Peak: Tabletop

2011-02-08T22:33:00.005-05:00

The night before our trip to the Loj brought a rare wintertime snowy thunderstorm, coating the roads with a couple inches of fresh snow and some ice. We had hoped to get to the Loj around 8am, but the sloppy roads delayed us to an 8:30 arrival time in the parking lot.We followed the Van Hoevenberg Trail to Marcy Dam, where we arrived at about 9:45. As we had expected, the trail had not been

February is Heart Health Month

2011-01-27T17:23:00.005-05:00

For the next Blog Carnival, the EtsyBloggers team is writing about heart health, since February is Heart Health Month. While it is difficult for some people to get out and exercise in the colder months of winter, there are still some outdoor options, as well as many usual indoor options to keep your heart in shape.I keep my heart healthy in the winter by snowshoeing. Snowshoeing can burn a lot

Wordless Wednesday: Giant Icicle

2011-01-26T22:42:00.002-05:00

Big Slide - Winter Peak

2011-01-15T20:04:00.005-05:00

I have been the proud owner of snowshoes since I was a little kid, mostly just walking through the cemetery next to my childhood home, golf courses, and across Paradox Lake. As an adult I have a few local trails that I like to go on. Over the last couple of years I have climbed up one firetower mountain in them (Hurricane Mt) and some small elevation gain trails like the one at Pilot Knob Ridge

Wordless Wednesday: Thinking Tree

2011-01-12T23:03:00.004-05:00

Theme Thursday: Keeping Warm

2011-01-06T15:23:00.004-05:00

Although my region is experiencing a below average amount of snowfall so far this season, our cold temperatures are not letting us forget that it is winter! Cold weather is not unusual in Upstate New York, but it can be a struggle to stay warm during these brutal months. Fortunately, if you experience the chill of winter, there are some great seasonal handmade items on Etsy that can help keep

Music Monday: The Dog Days Are Over

2011-01-03T06:00:00.003-05:00

In honor of a new year, I'd like to feature videos of Florence and the Machine's song, "Dog Days are Over." The original video was made in 2008, and is a low budget video, but actually is my favorite of the two. In my opinion, you can get more emotion from the song in this version. The characters in the video bounce around and dance in the woods like I'd like to do whenever I hear the song.

Wordless Wednesday: 12/29/10

2010-12-29T23:13:00.001-05:00

Music Monday: Raise Your Glass

2010-12-27T18:31:00.000-05:00

Getting ready to toast to 2011? I'm sure that "Raise Your Glass," by P!nk, will gain even more popularity this week leading up to the New Year. It's title alone gets you ready for a champagne toast but if you look beyond the bottom of your glass, the lyrics and rhythm are inspiring, particularly to those who don't quite fit in with the rest of society. The video is odd in nature and has a lot

Theme Thursday: Festivus

2010-12-23T18:00:00.000-05:00

In my opinion, one of the best episodes of Seinfeld was the one about Festivus, a made-up sitcom holiday based on a true story. In reality, the fake holiday was "created" by the father of a screenwriter for Seinfeld, but in the episode it began with George's father, Frank, in a store fighting over a doll that he wanted to buy for his son. The doll was destroyed, and Frank realized that

Wordless Wednesday: Sláinte!

2010-12-22T08:06:00.002-05:00

Music Monday: Winter Song

2010-12-20T19:10:00.004-05:00

It's very short notice, but if you didn't already know, tonight (technically early tomorrow morning) there will be a unusual occurrence. A lunar eclipse will begin around 1am Eastern time, and one "bite" at a time, the moon will slowly slip into our Earth's shadow, and if there are clear skies, the moon will turn a creepy orange around 3:17am, with the show ending around 5am.This is a special

Something for Everyone

2010-12-18T21:06:00.005-05:00

With three shops, it would be hard NOT to find something to buy from Linda of Pruitt Handcrafts! She is a talented crafter, breast cancer survivor, and grandmother to 25 lucky kids! Her talents extend from quilting and sewing to jewelry and scrapbooking.This Cute as a Bug's Ear crayon carrier roll up caught my eye because my Great Grandpa Joe used to tell me that I was as cute as a bug's ear -

Celebrate the New Year with Etsy

2010-12-16T19:38:00.008-05:00

Everyone has their own way of celebrating the New Year - with friends at a party, a low key evening with someone special, watching the ball drop on TV or in person, or maybe just making a New Year's Resolution or two. Most people could agree that no matter how it's celebrated, there is usually a feeling of renewal and a hope for a year that is better than the previous one. However you plan on

Christmas Treats

2010-12-12T20:43:00.004-05:00

When I was a kid, my mom and I made Christmas candies every year for friends and family. Well, she would make the candies and together we would bag them up in these cute little "gingerbread houses" that we would make out of lunch bags. We'd cut the top couple inches off of a brown paper lunch bag and take red construction paper and make a square that was a little wider than the paper bag and

Christmas Etsy Wishlist

2010-11-28T19:28:00.010-05:00

The EtsyBloggers team is writing about what they would like for the holidays from Etsy. I don't really want or need much this year, but I searched around and found some cool things. Before I share them, I'd like to inform shoppers about a cool Etsy App that could come in handy this holiday season, Gift Ideas for Facebook Friends. Etsy promises to "be cool" and not post to your wall without

Devine Designs

2010-11-23T20:00:00.007-05:00

Cindy, of Devine Designs, is a very talented jewelry artist. She has always been crafty, sewing swimming suits and dance costumes, and now working with with metal. Creativity comes naturally to her, stating that she has some talented family, but she has also studied under other talented artists and learned a lot of the art on her own. She only uses high quality components and each piece is

Splendid Little Stars and Sparkly Park

2010-10-23T21:13:00.005-04:00

Margaret of Splendid Little Stars and Sparkly Park has a lot of creative talents. She hand dyes and hand paints clothing, and has been doing so for over 18 years now. Like myself, she enjoys being outdoors and finds inspiration in nature. She makes really cute infant and toddler clothing as well as beautiful jewelry.This cute bubble suit was hand-dyed and hand-painted by Margaret and is called

Sawteeth

2010-10-18T08:59:00.007-04:00

I was lucky enough on my hike up Basin and Saddleback to get some emails of other aspiring 46er women to hike with. When I have free weekends that I don't have to work or attend a wedding or wedding related event there isn't always an ADK group going on a high peak hike that I haven't already completed. I don't quite feel comfortable hiking alone on the high peaks for several reasons. First of

All Time Favorite Halloween Costumes

2010-10-14T22:40:00.010-04:00

Halloween is definitely one of my favorite days of the year. Not only do you get to be creative and be someone other than yourself for a little while, but it comes with candy and parties without your typical holiday stress.My mom always made my costume when I was a kid, which typically would involve a sewing machine or large cardboard box. I wasn't allowed to go trick-or-treating like the other

A Social Perspective

2010-09-30T19:02:00.007-04:00

Bev, of bjsartworks Gallery, hosts the Domestic Violence Awareness Project to raise awareness of domestic violence and to reach out to victims and their families. Her third annual presentation is titled "A Social Perspective"and it is taking place in her Gallery at The Shirt Factory in Glens Falls, NY. Local artists will be selling their art inspired by any social element of domestic violence

For the Bride and Her Ladies

2010-09-23T19:41:00.009-04:00

I try to keep a variety of jewelry in my shop to suit different styles and occasions. Some pieces are more appropriate for a night on the town, while others are better for work or a special occasion. Some are more versatile, dressing up a simple outfit or accenting something more elegant.The Blog Carnival topic for the EtsyBloggers this month is weddings. I actually carry items in my shop that

Basin and Saddleback

2010-09-19T19:29:00.006-04:00

I tagged along with the Albany chapter of the ADK to hike Basin and Saddleback. We had carpooled from Queensbury and fortunately were able to squeeze into two cars because the parking lot at the Garden was already full at 7am when we got there. Us passengers got a head start and walked toward the Johns Brook Lodge where we met two more in the group, while the drivers parked their cars at the

Colvin and Blake

2010-09-19T18:07:00.005-04:00

I joined the Central New York Hiking Meet Up Group when I saw they had a group going up Colvin and Blake. We met around 9am at the DEC parking lot on Rt. 73 by the Ausable Club in Keene. Half the group split to head right up Colvin and Blake, but the rest of us took a side trip to Cathedral Rock and Bear Run.We passed Cathedral Rock and continued on to Bear Run on a flat to small grade incline

Patch: Three Great Shops

2010-08-31T20:45:00.005-04:00

Patch, of Patch First Shop, PatchVintageShop, and PatchSupplyShop makes jewelry beautiful enough to be bridal jewelry. She lives in Thailand and her items ship from there. She has a great passion for jewelry and is willing to make custom orders.Patch First Shop specializes in beaded Swarovski and custom bridal jewelry. Her items range in colors ideal for all bridesmaids dresses as well as

Our Great Irish Vacation

2010-08-12T15:30:00.009-04:00

The best vacation ever, by far, was our trip to Ireland. We were there from the end of May into June. The best time to go is probably July or August for the best weather, but we lucked out only needing an umbrella once anyway!We flew into Shannon Airport from JFK after about 7 hours of flight. When we landed it was light drizzle, as to be expected, temperatures in the 60s (Fahrenheit). It took

The Dix Range (Excluding Dix)

2010-08-12T09:16:00.006-04:00

Saturday I bagged four more high peaks in about 10 hours. The weather was perfect, zero percent chance of precipitation with temperatures in the upper sixties in the elevation. The ability to wear a long sleeve shirt certainly saved my arms from cuts and scrapes on the unmarked but decently clear herd paths.It's difficult to find people to go hiking with, especially with my obligations to work

Street and Nye

2010-08-01T20:33:00.004-04:00

Yesterday I climbed Nye Mountain and Street Mountain, my 8th and 9th high peaks, respectively. These were my first unmarked trail climbs, though the herd path that has formed over the years is in good shape. I went with a group of about 16 from the ADK, picking up another hiker along the way.We began our day around 6am dividing into a few carpools at Panera Bread and forming a convoy up to the

Missie from Sykin and NWWonder

2010-07-27T17:38:00.005-04:00

Browsing through Missie's two (yes two!) Etsy shops, it's hard to believe that she has time for her creative talents, being a mother full time working 26-year-old mother of two! He creative outlets include jewelry, photography, and paper crafts, not to mention her expansion into sewing clothing and other items.Sykin is her shop which exclusively features items related to the Twilight series by

Ruby Red

2010-07-08T19:35:00.006-04:00

The Ruby is the birthstone of July and the subject for this week's EtsyBloggers Team Carnival. I struggled to find a related topic to discuss or items in my own shop to feature, as most of my reds are Christmas and Valentine's Day themed. Much like Dorothy who had access to what she needed to get home, her ruby shoes, all along, I realized that I too had access to my goal - a ruby themed blog

Featured Etsy Seller: Beaded Tail

2010-06-30T19:01:00.007-04:00

"Making tails wag one bead at a time"Sharla, of Beaded Tail, combines her love of jewelry making and animals into a great business. In 2007, Sharla found inspiration in news reports of animal hardships. Her mom went into business with her and they began to make animal themed jewelry for animal lovers, donating a portion of all sales to various animal awareness causes.Beaded Tail offers a lot of

High Peaks: Dial & Nippletop

2010-06-27T11:08:00.012-04:00

I tagged along with the Albany Chapter of the ADK for this hike, Dial and Nipple top via Bear Den from the Ausable Club. There was a total of 7 of us in the group and a forecast for possible showers all day up until 2pm when the chance of rain and thunderstorms was greater. It was our leaders goal to have us up all three summits and down to at least Elks Pass by 2pm.We began at the parking lot

Jewelry Booth Promotions

2010-06-20T16:34:00.003-04:00

I'm participating in my second craft fair next month at the 41st Schroon Lake Association Arts & Crafts Fair in Schroon Lake, NY. The fair is in the Town Park on July 17th from 10am until 4pm. If you are local to the area, or live close enough to make a low budget family vacation out of it, Schroon Lake is located maybe 40 minutes north of Lake George, and about an hour southeast of Lake Placid

Ms. Moo's Spa Line

2010-05-27T15:01:00.005-04:00

I love promoting Etsy sellers, and when I shop on Etsy, it's usually when I'm buying beads or supplies for my business or a gift for someone else. I caught a glimpse of SpottedCowSoaps' (or Ms. Moo as the EtsyBloggers Call her) Lady Bug Soaps and Lotion on her Facebook fan page, which I decided would make a nice Mother's Day gift for my lady bug loving mother-in-law. I had recalled seeing her

At the Mercy of an Ash Cloud

2010-05-20T19:31:00.005-04:00

I have been ignoring my blog and Etsy shop lately, not out of disinterest, but more from distraction. My husband and I have been planning a trip to Ireland so I've spent most of my evenings researching the Emerald Isle, reading about culture, and of course places to see. It wouldn't surprise most people that know me that I have a spreadsheet with daily itinerary including links from the

HandmadeBySandi

2010-05-20T18:37:00.008-04:00

Meet Sandi, from Handmade By Sandi on Etsy. Her items are soft and full of love, touching, much like her story as to how her hobby became a business.Her mom taught her how to crochet when she was a little girl. Scarves, hats, and stuffed animals for children were her specialties. In 2006 she began chemo treatments for breast cancer, inspiring her to knit caps and hats to keep warm. After her

Glass

2010-05-07T19:40:00.008-04:00

I've gone through several phases in my Etsy shop. I've done beading, wire crochet, wire wrapping, ceiling fan pulls, fly fishing lanyards, decoupage, glass tile, bottle cap upcycling, I have even made my own polymer clay beads. As far as beading, I've used glass beads, natural stone, clay, and pearls. After all of this, I must say that my favorite material to work with are glass beads and

Magdalene Jewels and Magdalene Knits

2010-04-25T21:18:00.005-04:00

I was very excited to see that my partner in crime on the EtsyBlogger's team blog, co-poster of the team's monthly MiniMondays, is the featured teammate of the month! What a well deserving member. I enjoy looking at her jewelry, knitted items, and reading her blog, particularly looking at her cat pictures that are sometimes her Wordless Wednesdays! A quote from her blog profile:"Life is too

Green and Blossoming

2010-04-24T09:01:00.006-04:00

Trees are blossoming and the plants and flowers are starting to wake up from their winter nap. The sunlight lingers longer in the evening and you can even step out without a sweater some afternoons. Spring is full swing.Here are some newer items in my shop, can you tell I had cabin fever?Here is a memory wire choker with green glass twist beads, gold fresh water pearls and cream colored glass

Dizzy Dragonflies!

2010-04-03T20:56:00.006-04:00

It is my pleasure to feature one of the longest running members of the EtsyBloggers team, Vicki of DizzyDragonflies and KnittingDragonflies. While she has always loved creating handmade items, her favorite material to work with is yarn.Her business was accidental. It began as a hobby and found people offering to pay her to make them items that she was wearing or had given as gifts. Her love

Cabin Fever

2010-03-26T20:24:00.006-04:00

We had a little unseasonably warm weather last week, but there's nothing like the month of March to remind you that the title Spring Equinox has no impact on the actual weather where I live. It was disappointing to see a dusting of snow this morning and the prediction of single digit low temperatures on my weekend off from work. I did not get much snowshoeing in this winter, as most of the

Conspiracy Theory Jewelry

2010-03-19T22:21:00.009-04:00

I'm not going to lie... I bought a six pack of beer a few months ago because I thought the caps were pretty. Perhaps I was a victim of a marketing ploy, perhaps it was artistic destiny. Either way, one Google search lead to another and I got a brief history lesson, and enjoyed some good beer!Cool bottles, can you blame me for buying it?The fancy purple caps, as well as the decorative bottles,

Shamrockin'

2010-03-02T21:18:00.010-05:00

On this St. Patrick's Day will you be celebrating your Irish heritage? Or are you going to enjoy being "Irish" for just one day? Either way, I have a few new pieces this year for you to check out.These green and gold Shamrock Earrings on gold filled ear wire and head pins are light weight. The green shamrock beads sit between textured gold colored glass beads.Shamrock EarringsCaps from Guinness

TILT!

2010-02-25T16:21:00.008-05:00

This month's featured Etsyblogger team member is Theresa from TiLT Creations and her second Etsy shop, TiLT Too.Theresa is a creative stay at home mom. When she's not busy with her two boys she is painting, sewing, or cooking. As she says, she has been into art since she picked up her first Crayola! She studied art and art history in college and creating art has become a big part of her life.I

Heart ♥ Health

2010-02-12T20:46:00.005-05:00

The month of February is not only a month for love and valentines, but also for heart health! Cardiovascular diseases, including strokes, are the leading cause of death in this country. This scary statistic prompted an entire month being dedicated to raising heart health awareness.You can improve your heart's health by:Reducing risk factorsExercisingFollowing a healthful dietYou can't improve

Winter Photo Contest

2010-02-01T19:31:00.010-05:00

I entered this photo taken on a snowshoe hike of Pilot Knob Ridge into a local photo contest. It is a gazebo on the ridge from which you have a beautiful view of Lake George. Votes appreciated, especially since it requires you to make a username and password!Also submitted, was this amazing picture taken by Sister of a waterfall at the Lake George Recreational Park. Vote for her if you prefer!

2010 Valentine's Day Collection

2010-01-31T21:35:00.008-05:00

I've recently been busy making my Valentine's Day 2010 line, but even hard so, finding a day off in which there was good lighting to take pictures! I have finally listed all my heart items, just in time for February! So if you'd like to do some shopping for your valentine or buy some stuff for yourself to celebrate yourself, mention in your Message to Seller during Etsy checkout "Be Mine" and

Nico Designs: Home Decor, Crib Shoes, Totes, and More!

2010-01-14T16:07:00.004-05:00

This month the EtsyBloggers are featuring our fellow member, Erika, of Nico Designs. She has been a member for nearly two years now!I think what makes Erika stand out amongst the many other sellers of hand sewn items is not only her great talent, but her choice in fabrics as well. For example, check out this tote bag. While Christmas is over, it's not to early to shop for next year, especially

It's a New Year...

2010-01-14T15:37:00.002-05:00

... and the EtsyBloggers team is blogging about it. Given a choice between talking about 2009 or looking ahead to 2010 I chose to go forward, as this year will be much more exciting. The fun begins with a late winter long weekend in Puerto Rico for a wedding. Unfortunately, I'll be going without my husband - but with a ride to the airport and a free place to stay, I couldn't pass the opportunity

CalKat Love

2010-01-06T22:03:00.005-05:00

As a jewelry designer myself, I have great admiration for the work of CalKat. CalKat is actually a great duo, Kathy and Carrie, and they make one of a kind jewelry, beads, and pendants.I especially admire their work with silver, such as this pendant on their Capricorn Zodiac Necklace. They carefully chose stones that are representative of the sun sign, complimenting the sterling silver

Soopsee!

2009-12-12T23:33:00.004-05:00

I'm giving soopsee.com a try! It seems like a slightly more customizable website that leads your customer back to Etsy.Pros:Helps get your name out thereEasy set up for a more customized web page than Etsy aloneOne page can links to your Etsy page, blog, contact information, other websitesIt's free, to a point, and therefore worth a shot!If you don't know how to build a webpage, it is an easy to

Unlocking the Color Combination

2009-12-11T10:13:00.005-05:00

There are many arguments in the debate of Art vs. Craft. As discussed before, my stance is that there are elements of one in the other. One can say that making jewelry is a craft, because it is. It requires materials and tools. Anybody with some cord can string beads, tie it off, and call it a necklace; however it is the color combination, design, and inspiration that make it art.If you browse

Berry Pond - Lake George

2009-11-29T00:24:00.005-05:00

I came across an article today in the online edition of the PostStar about the Lake George Land Conservancy receiving a grant to continue its efforts at the Berry Pond Preserve, which was acquired by the LGLC in 2008, and towards the Last Great Shoreline Protection Project of 2009.This article reminded me about my quest to find Berry Pond this summer. I had heard of the recent acquisition by the

Black Friday Through Cyber Monday Sale!

2009-11-26T23:05:00.010-05:00

☆:*¨¨*:★:*¨¨*:☆:*¨¨*:★: HOLIDAY SALE :★:*¨¨*:☆:*¨¨*:★:*¨¨*:☆Handmade pendants on sale: BOGO! Buy one full priced pendant, get another for HALF OFF!See my Handmade Pendants Section for all the pendants (both holiday and non-seasonal) included in this offer!Discount applied to the lesser priced items, you MAY mix and match, you will receive a complimentary ball chain with each pendant unless

Thanksgiving Dessert: Pumpkin Cake

2009-11-18T18:48:00.005-05:00

This year we are driving about an hour south to my cousin's house for Thanksgiving dinner. It will be the largest Thanksgiving celebration that I've attended in years - the good old extended family dinner with aunts, uncles and grandparents!I don't have a token "dish" that I bring to people's houses for dinner; I'm more of a baker than a cook. I think I'll bring a pumpkin cake, and if I get

Giant and Rocky Peak Ridge

2009-11-08T13:51:00.006-05:00

Back in October, a friend from grade school, whom I've recently reconnected with, accompanied me on a hike up Giant Mountain and Rocky Peak Ridge. This was my fourth time on Giant Mountain, but my first time to the summit. My husband and I went once to the base of the Roaring Brook Falls and once again on the Zander Scott trail to Giant's Washbowl. Sister and I went to the top of the Roaring

Best Halloween Costume EVER

2009-11-03T21:17:00.004-05:00

You don't have to know much about me to know that Halloween is one of my favorite days of the year. I love dressing up in a costume, making fun of myself, eating candy, watching scary movies, and going to a good Halloween party. The costume I wore this year has actually been an idea of mine for about three years, but between my husband having to work last year and no party to attend the year

Made by Melissa

2009-11-03T20:35:00.008-05:00

After looking through MadeByMelissa's Etsy Shop you may be left wondering if there is anything that she can't make! From toys to jewelry, dishcloths to afghans, she can do it all! Although she may make similar stuff sometimes, its never exactly the same as anything else that she's created - everything is unique. After reading her profile, I see we have quite a bit in common. We are the same

Etsy Bloggers October 26th Edition

2009-10-26T21:29:00.004-04:00